PREFACE

Abstract

Michio Imawari Yutaka Kohgo Yutaka Atomi On behalf of the Japanese Society of Gastroenterology, Japan Society of Hepatology, and Japan Digestive Disease Week, we are delighted to have sponsored the 6th International Symposium on Alcoholic Liver and Pancreatic Diseases (ALPD) and Cirrhosis as part of JDDW2011 in Fukuoka, Japan on 20–21 October 2011. Like the second symposium that our organizations also supported in Kobe 4 years ago, the event was very unique in assembling leading investigators in the field of ALPD and cirrhosis around the world. Dr Kenneth Warren, Acting Director of the NIAAA/NIH, delivered an enlightening opening lecture, followed by special tribute made in memory of the late Professor Hiromasa Ishii by Professors Helmut K. Seitz and Nobuhiro Sato. The level of science discussed was exceptionally high, as praised by many who attended the symposium, and this was attributable to outstanding lectures by prominent scientists, such as Michael Karin, Antonello Pietrangelo, and Arun Sanyal. The symposium had 22 invited speakers and moderators from 13 nations and 56 selected poster presentations for the themes ranging from stem cells, cell death regulation, therapeutic targets, and global health. The total number of attendees exceeded 300 over the 2-day period. We take pride in having supported the symposium, which aimed to advance global collaboration for basic and clinical studies on ALPD and Cirrhosis. As metabolic diseases are becoming global epidemic, this symposium attracted much interest from investigators in Japan and from around the world. We witnessed active discussions and collaborations facilitated by the event, as it provided a perfect platform for cross-interactions among leading and young investigators. We are particularly touched by an overwhelming support for the Japan Recovery Funds rendered by many of international invitees and participants. Nearly US$4000 was raised and donated to the Japan Red Cross via the symposium organizers. We wish to thank all co-sponsors, including National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)/National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Southern California Research Center for ALPD and Cirrhosis, for their financial and logistic support, without which this symposium would not have been possible. Thank you all for having made the extra efforts to attend and support this symposium, and for having contributed articles to its proceedings in Journal of Hepatology and Gastroenterology.